Electropneumatic interlocking



1 9, 1929. J. MOICAUILLEY 1,736,353

ELECTROPNEUMATIC INTERLOCKING Filed Feb. 19, 1929 INVENTORf T E Ma Caul/sy,

Patented Nov. 19, 1929 UNITED. STATES JOHN E. MCCAULLEY, OI NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION SWITCH & SIGNAL PATENT OFFICE ooMP NY, or swIssvA E, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION or PENNSYLVANIA EDECTROPNEUMATIG INTERLOCKING Application filed February '19, 1929. Serial No. 341,251.

, My invention relates to railway interlocking of the electropneumatic-type, and particularly to apparatus for controlling an electropneumatic :.switch operating mecha- V 5 nism from a distant point. v v

I will describe one form of apparatus embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims. 7 The accompanying drawing 'is a diagram- 10 matic View, showing one form of electropneumatie interlocking apparatus embodying my invention. Referring to the drawings, the reference character A designates a railway switch 5 which is moved to its normal and reverse positions by a switch operating mechanism B comprising a normal magnet N, a reverse magnet R, and c a lock magnet. L. This mechanism may, for example, beo'f the, type shown in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,202,164, granted to P. Coleman on October 24,1916, although the specific form of switch actuating mechanism forms nopart of my present invention. It is sufficient to say that when the normal magnet N, and lock magnet L are energized, the switch is moved to its normal position; when the reverse magnet R and lock magnet L arecenergized, the switch is moved to its reverse position;'and the switch operating mechanism .-is lockedwat all times except when the lock magnetv L is energized. I I T The switch mechanism B. is controlled a'man'ually operable lever F, which ,may, for example, be one of a roup of similar levers in an interlocking mac ine. This leveris p rovidedwith normal contactsfN and reverse cont-acts R. ;,The switch mechanism,.is,,also controlled in part'by an indication relay E which is responsive to reversals of the'polarity of the currentwith which it is energlzed.

This relay is provided with; a, circuit which includes-a battery D, and apole-changer operated by the switch A, so-that therelay is energized in the1 normal direct on when the sw'itchis initsnormal position, and in;the reverse direction when the switch is in its reverse position. Relay E. is provided with a neutral contact 1 and a polarxcontact 2. a

a f 1 v -As shown in the drawing, thenormal magnet N is energized, whereas the reversemagnet It and the lock magnet L are both deenergized, so that the switch A occupies its normal position. Assuming nowthat lever F is reversed, the circuit for the normal magnet N will become opened at the lever contact N and the circuit for reverse magnet R will i become closed at lever contact B the circuits for these magnets being obvious from the drawing. Lock magnetL will also become energized by virtue of a circuit which passes from the left-hand terminal of battery G, through polar contact 2 of relay E in its normal position, reverse lever contact/"B and lock magnet L to battery G. Magnets R and L being energized, switch A will be moved to its reverse position. As soon as the switch begins to move, pole-changer C will become opened so that relay E will, become de-energized. Another branch of the circuitfor lock magnet L will then become closed, which branch includesthe neutral back point contact 1 'ofrela'y E but excludes the polar contact 2 and the lever contact R 2 When the switch reaches its reverse position, pole-changer C will again become closed but relay E will be energized in the reverse direction so that polar contact 2 will be swung to the right. Both branches of the circuit for lock magnet L will then be opened, so that this magnet will become de-energized and willlock the switch mechanism inits reverse position. i H c Assuming now that lever is restored to itsnormal position, th e circuit for the re verse -magnet R willbecome opened at lever contact R and the circuit for the normal magnet will becomeclosedat lever con tactN A third branch for the circuit of lock magnet L will then become closed,-so that this circuit passes from battery G through polar contact 2 in the reverse position, normal contact N of lever F, and'magnet L to battery G. During the transit of the {switch A, relay E will be ole-energized as before, so thatlock'magnet L will be energized through the back neutral contact 1 of this relay. \Nhen the switch reaches its full normal osition,re1ay E will again become energr-red in the normal direction, so that look magnet L will become de-energized and the switch mechanism will be locked in its normal position.

Located in the interlocking tower adjacent the lever F is an indicating lamp H, which lamp is connectedwith the circuit for the lock magnet L and is in multiple with this magnet. It follows that the lamp H is light ed when magnet L is energized, and e tinuished when the magnet isde-energized. lVhen the lever F is operated to cause a movement of switch A, lamp H immediately becomes lighted and remains lighted until the switch responds by a complete movement, that is, until the indication relay again becomes energized. In other words, this lamp is lighted whenever the lever and the switch do not harmonize in position.

One feature of my invention is thefact that the lock magnet L becomes energized the instant that the control leverF is op erated, and remains energized until the inclication relay E responds to a complete movement of the switch, whereupon the lock magnet immediately becomes de-energized.

Another feature of my invention is that the switch mechanism is self-restoring at all times. For example, if the switch mechanism is operated by hand, or the valves are manually manipulated to reverse the switch while the lever F remains in its normal position, then when the manual influence is remove'd, the switch will immediately restore itself to the normal position. The reason for this is, that the circuit for the normal magnet N is closed at lever contactN while the circuit for the lock magnetL is closed at lever contact N and polar contact 20f relay E in the reverse position. Similarly, if the lever F is in the reverse position and switch A is caused by manual influence to move to its normal position, then as soon as such manual influence is removed the switch will automatically restore itself to the reverse position. i v Although I have herein shown described only one form of apparatus embodying my invention, itis understood that Iva rious changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from theispirit and scope of my invention. A

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim is: I I 1. In combination, a railway switch, operating mechanism for said switch comprising a normal and a reverse magnet as well as a lock magnet, amanually operable lever provided with normal and -reverse contacts,

means for energizing said normal 'or'said reverse magnet according as said normal or reverse lever contacts are closed, a polarized indication relay controlled by said switch, and a circuit for said lock magnet having two branches in multiple, one of which I a lock magnet,amanually operable lever provided with normal and reversecontacts, means for energizing said normal or said reverse magnet according as said normal or reverse lever contacts are closed, a polarized indication 'relay'controlled by said switch,

and a circuitfor said lock magnet having three branches, one of which branches ineludes normal polar contact of said indication relay and a reverse lever contact, the second'of which branches includes inseries a reverse polar contact of said indication relay and a normal lever contact, and the third of which branches includes a back neutral contact of said indication relay.

3. In combination, a railway switch,[op-

' crating mechanism forsaid switch comprising a'lock magnet, a manually operable lever provided with normal and reverse contacts, a polarized indicationrelaycontrolled by said switch, and a circuit for said lock magnet having two branches in multiple, one of which branches'includes a normal contact of said indication relay and a reverse lever contact in series, and the other of which branches includes a; reverse contact of said indication relay and a normal lever contact in series.

In combination, a railway switch, operating mechanism for said switch comprising a lock magnet, a-manually operable lever provided with normal and reverse contacts, a polarized indication relay controlled by said switch, and a circuit for said lock magnet havin three branches, one of which branches inc'lu esrin series a normal polar contact of said indication relay and areverse lever contact, the second of which branches includes in series a reverse polar contact of said indication relay and a normal lever contact, and the third of which branches'includes aback neutral contact of said indication may? r 5. Inic'ombin'ation, arailway switch, operating mechanism for said switch comprising'a lock magnet, a manually operable lever provided withnorm'al and reverse contacts, a polarized indication relay controlled by said switch,a circuit forsaid lock magnet having two branches in multiple, one of which branches includes a normal contact of said indication relay and a reverse lever contact inseries, and the other of 'which branches includes a reverse contact ofsaid indication relay andanormal lever contact in series, and an indication lamp connected in multiple with said lockmagnetl 6.In*combination, a railway switch opcrating mechanism for said switch comprising a lock magnet, a manually operable lever provided with normal and reverse contacts, a polarized indication relay controlled by said switch, a circuit for said lock magnet having three branches, one of which branches includes in series a normal polar contact of said indication relay and a reverse lever contact, the second of which branches includes in series a reverse polar contact of said indication relay and a normal lever contact, and the third of which branches includes a back neutral contact of said indication relay, and an indication device connected in multiple with said lock magnet.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOHN E. MOCAULLEY. 

